March the band out, beat the drum and shout, "Hello, gorgeous!" Nobody's going to rain on Hillbarn Theatre's parade as it opens its 74th season with the iconic musical, "Funny Girl."

The show tells the story of early 20th-century singing/comedy star Fanny Brice. The score features such memorable Jule Styne/Bob Merrill songs as "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "People."

San Mateo's Dan Demers, who took over the reins as Hillbarn's executive artistic director in June, explains why he chose "Funny Girl."

"I've always felt a connection to 'Funny Girl,' because it's not often that you find a musical that is about a comedian -- especially a female comedian -- and her life and her struggle with her dreams versus love," Demers says. "The show is rarely done, because everyone equates 'Funny Girl' with Barbra Streisand. I like the idea of opening the season with a show that not only makes people laugh and have fun, but also makes them think and realize that dreams come at many different times in our lives, and we grow and we change and we find what works for us, and the humor that ensues with that path."

Demers, who was seen as Max Bialystock in the Hillbarn production of "The Producers," is directing "Funny Girl." He knew he'd need a charismatic lead. He found one in Melissa WolfKlain.

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"She's wonderful to work with," Demers says. "She has the most wonderful comedic timing. And she's completely unabashed at being a goofball. And that's what I love about her, because that's who Fanny Brice was ... and is. She's got to be out there and raw and always cracking a joke and always making people laugh, so, when we do have the heartfelt moments that come through, they're that much richer and more filled with depth. And Melissa just soars with that, she's mesmerizing to watch."

He had briefly met WolfKlain at a Foster City supermarket, when he was shopping with a "Spamalot" castmate, who happened to be one of WolfKlain's friends. Demers and WolfKlain stayed in touch. He informed her when "Funny Girl" was placed on the schedule, and she returned to the Peninsula to audition. She displayed exactly the right, vivacious touch.

WolfKlain was raised in Foster City, where her parents (Lisa and Matthew) still reside. She is making her Hillbarn debut with "Funny Girl."

The San Mateo High School graduate performed with numerous community theater companies, including Broadway By The Bay and Peninsula Civic Light Opera. She earned a degree at University of Arizona, where she studied musical theater. The winner of several honors, including the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Award, and a veteran of various touring companies, she now resides in New York and dreams of making her Broadway debut.

When Demers called, WolfKlain's ears perked up, she says. "I was excited, because it's something that's not done all the time. And it's a huge role, one that's sought after by a lot of actresses. And it's not very often where the leading lady is the character actress."

WolfKlain has never seen the movie version of "Funny Girl." She won't watch it as she prepares for the role. "I don't want to do Barbra, which is what everyone has in their heads. I want to make it my own. It's better for me, not having someone else's voice in my head."

She did, however, track down vintage videos of Brice. "I wanted to hear her, see her mannerisms, watch how she performed. She's just so broad, but real at the same time. She's such a caricature, but she's also grounded, which I really like."

Wolfklain found aspects of the character to which she could relate. "Wanting to make a living on the stage, while also wanting a personal life, definitely resonates with me. Wanting it all -- I think everyone wants that."

It's a demanding role. "Vocally, it's very challenging, because she sings so many songs. And it's a big range that she has to cover. She also ages from like 19 to her 30s, in the show. You have to portray that without being over the top."

Demers provides a guiding hand. WolfKlain says, "He's great. He's very hands-on. He wants it to be organic for us, and I really appreciate that. And if something's not working, he says, 'Well, do it your way and do what feels right for you.' And I really like that."

It's a challenging job for a director, as well. "It's not easy to fit a large show in a small space," Demers says. "We only have 179 seats, and we've come up with really unique ways to make things work. The production team has completely outdone themselves with this one. I think what we're successfully achieving, we're creating this large feel, in this intimate space, so that the audience feels very much a part of the show. The designers and the builders and everybody have really taken the space and transformed it into a proscenium-style theater.

He expects this to be a crowd-pleasing production. "Above and beyond their reminiscing, reliving their experiences with earlier productions and the movie, I think the biggest thing that people are going to take away from this -- they're going to laugh, they're going to have a good time, and they're going to see somebody like Melissa, a hard-working, dedicated actress, basically strap this show on her back, along with an amazing cast of people, and really show the audience that, no matter who you are, no matter how people say that you look or what you can and can't do -- you can do anything."

As for Hillbarn's long-term goals, Demers says, "I would love to see the company continue to grow and put out more great art. We're looking at possibly expanding our education department to include adult classes. And we really just want to allow people to enrich their lives through the arts."